Try not to take your CMM's air from the lowest point in the line. Take the air above the lowest point preferably in a straight run down towards the floor. This will allow much of the water, oil and such to fall past your CMM air. You will how ever need to have a way to drain this lower section as just letting it fill up defeats the purpose. Running the line into a 5 gallon bucket with a lid will not only contain but also conceal the contaminates and allow you a means of removing them from the area. Just put a manually operated valve between the CMM air and the bucket "that you open to drain daily" and you will help improve your CMM's air quality.
Good one. This helps even if you have filters to make sure they last longer and don't get clogged up. It's cheap and easy.
Furthermore if I may say:
1. If your air bearing CMM has oil/water on it, it's life is limited. If it's an important machine to you, get someone to fix it right away or it WILL go down.
2. Oil and water filters and this tip are way cheaper than a rebuild/rehose.
3. The machines come with user manuals, read them, and follow the PM advice.
4. Yearly factory calibration is good for firmware updates, latest tuning procedures, and recommendations for machine maintenance, not just the calibration itself. It's healthy for your machine.
SOOO......I've worked here for just over 2 years now, and I have never heard of, been taught to, nor seen in action, these being drained or even checked. I know I was told when I first start that we have a more upgraded filter system due to the working area our machine is in.....literally you can clean the desk, and wipe it with your hand ten minutes later, and it will be black.
I have just yesterday, made a Daily and Monthly checklist for the CMM operators....based on the Layout Reference Material that was posted on the forum. I altered a little to best suit our situation, but one of the things was to clean the filters.
I feel like I should talk to my boss first thing Monday morning and make sure he shows me how to do this. So it can be done monthly.....or in our situation...weekly. I also have put in the PM for the operator to clean the filters on the controler at the end of the week (Friday night)....because I have noticed at random times throughout the week that both the intake and the exhaust filters are CAKED with crud..
The lowest point in our air line has a ball valve for draining liquid, about 3 feet above the ball valve is a T fitting where our regulator is attached. Our air line drops down from the ceiling.
The lowest point in our air line has a ball valve for draining liquid, about 3 feet above the ball valve is a T fitting where our regulator is attached. Our air line drops down from the ceiling.
Thanks alot Roger, I actually brought that up today, and was told I don't have authority to mess with anything on the CMM. I even got "scolded" for fixing the handle on the jogbox when I broke it, works fine though.
And I am the only programmer and can't even work on my own machine. Have to let maintenance, (who never seem to know anything about this machine) work on everything, when they are the ones who tore a ribbon in the jogbox the first time it needed to be fixed. "hence the reason I did it" ......
My point exactly. I also made up and brought to the attention of my supervisor (NOTE: I am salary and still have a supervisor), a daily and monthly PM checklist, that involved cleaning the table off, and a quick wipe down of the computer desk. This will help ensure cleanliness, but also ensure that the next shift that needs to use the computer does not get covered in black when they go to use the computer next. This was his response....." Well it's in your job description as the programmer to clean the CMM everyday." ME: " So since I am the only programmer your saying that I should be the only one cleaning the CMM and the work area every day?"....HIM: " is there really any need to clean me CMM every shift?".......??????
ME: "not to mention we still need a monthly PM to check for looseness of parts and cables, and check and possibly replace filters" HIM: " you are not authorized to check and or replace filters, that is not part of your job duties"..
